Day 886: Pawn mate
Target rating: 1883
Lesson of the day
The pawn mate lets the humblest soldier land the final blow. It happens to a king stuck among its own and enemy pieces: the pawn strikes diagonally from one square away and there is nowhere left to run. The sign: the squares around the king are covered or occupied, and your pawn stands one step from striking distance. Never write pawns out of your attack — their blows are the cheapest and therefore the most humiliating.
Warm-up
1. Mate in 3: queen to f5 (c8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
2. Mate in 3: rook to d7 (d4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
3. Mate in 3: rook to e4 (e1·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
4. Mate in 3: queen to a3 (g3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
5. Mate in 3: queen to e6 (d7·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
6. Mate in 3: knight to e7 (d5·5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
7. Mate in 3: pawn to e6 (e5·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
8. Mate in 3: knight to d5 (f6)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
9. Mate in 3: queen to d6 (a3·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
10. Mate in 3: rook to c3 (d3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Core set
11. Chess960 tactic on d6 (f5)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
12. Chess960 tactic on a8Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
13. Chess960 tactic on d8 (d1)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
14. Chess960 tactic on f8 (f4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
15. Chess960 tactic on d5 (d4·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
16. Fork: bishop to g2Analysis
Black to move — find the best continuation
17. Winning blow: rook to b6 (b8)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
18. Winning blow: queen to b8 (h8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
19. Winning blow: queen to b4 (c3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
20. Winning blow: bishop to e5 (f4·10)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
21. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (e6·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
22. Winning blow: rook to c8 (h8·4)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
23. Winning blow: bishop to d5 (b3·3)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
24. Mate in 3: queen to b7 (d7)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
25. Winning blow: rook to g7 (g8·2)Analysis
White to move — find the best continuation
Challenge
Review
Day complete — every puzzle solved. See you tomorrow!
Day 887 →